Cultural frames, qualities of life, and the aging self. 

• Author(s) / Creator(s)

  • Low, G.
  • Kalfoss, M.
  • Molzahn, A.

• We used the Self-Concept Enhancement Tactician (SCENT) model to explore whether older Norwegians and Canadians would tactically self-enhance on qualities considered significant within their cultures in their self-perceptions of aging. Qualities were measured using the WHOQOL-BREF and WHOQOL-OLD. Self-perceptions of aging were measured by the Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire. The study is a secondary analysis of data collected in a larger study; 393 older Norwegians and 202 older Canadians were included. The Norwegian and Canadian group self-enhanced their perceptions of psychosocial loss based on harmonious social relationships and being part of a larger social group. For self-perceptions of physical change, both groups self-enhanced on being self-sufficient and being part of a larger social group. Our findings suggest that Norwegians and Canadians are not highly individualistic people and also provide evidence of a bicultural self-perception of aging. Nurses should consider how cultural and individual perspectives affect the care priorities of older people.

• Date created

  2014

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Group comparisons
  • Canada
  • Culture
  • Self-perceptions of aging
  • Norway

• Type of Item

  Article (Published)

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3ZP3W30P

• License

  © 2014 Sage. This version of this article is open access and can be downloaded and shared. The original author(s) and source must be cited.